Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review existing literature on organizational learning (OL) through networking activities in tourism and hospitality (T&H) research. Referring to theories and concepts from the mainstream literature in OL and inter-organizational network research, the study provides an overview of the existing level of knowledge in T&H research, elaborates theoretical and practical implications and suggests future research directions.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review approach was used to identify and analyze relevant literature. The literature search involved six scientific online databases, namely, EBSCOhost, Emerald, ProQuest, Sage, ScienceDirect and Web of Knowledge, which were systematically scanned with defined keywords. Relevant articles were evaluated, selected, analyzed and synthesized to find out what is already known and what is yet to be known.FindingsA total of 69 articles were identified that present insights into OL through networking activities in T&H research. The review reveals that the resource, and especially the knowledge-based view of the firm, social capital theory, the relational view and trust and agglomeration theory represent insightful theoretical approaches to study OL phenomena and OL outcomes such as innovation, value creation and competitive advantage.Originality/valueAccording to the author’s information, this paper represents the first attempt to provide a comprehensive review of T&H-specific OL literature from a network perspective. The findings call for increased attention to this research field, especially regarding the adaptation of OL concepts to a T&H-specific context as a networked industry.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, networks have experienced increasing attention in organizational and management research and the stock of literature available is quite substantial (Borgatti and Foster, 2003; Zaheer et al, 2010)
As the tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry becomes more information and customer driven (Saxena, 2005) and due to the common understanding of a destination as a system, which consists of intertwined relations between diverse stakeholders (Timur and Getz, 2008), scholars have increasingly stressed the importance of applying a network perspective to the diverse fields of T&H research (Aubke, 2014; Cooper, 2006; Merinero-Rodríguez and Pulido-Fernández, 2016; Timur and Getz, 2008)
Studies focus on network resources that potentially can be accessed through network ties Collaboration between T&H firms positively affects knowledge creation and the development of learning capabilities Knowledge is viewed as one of the most important resources and a source of competitive advantage T&H is developing into a knowledge-based industry The study of knowledge management in the context of T&H needs to be expanded to provide a network perspective Social capital is viewed as a valuable asset within a firm’s individual network structure Social capital building is perceived especially important for T&H small- and medium-sized T&H enterprises (SMEs) to access knowledge in pursuit of organizational learning (OL) and innovation Tourism clusters stimulate knowledge sharing, learning processes and knowledge transfer
Summary
Over the past few decades, networks have experienced increasing attention in organizational and management research and the stock of literature available is quite substantial (Borgatti and Foster, 2003; Zaheer et al, 2010). As the T&H industry becomes more information and customer driven (Saxena, 2005) and due to the common understanding of a destination as a system, which consists of intertwined relations between diverse stakeholders (Timur and Getz, 2008), scholars have increasingly stressed the importance of applying a network perspective to the diverse fields of T&H research (Aubke, 2014; Cooper, 2006; Merinero-Rodríguez and Pulido-Fernández, 2016; Timur and Getz, 2008). The study of inter-organizational networks and relationships has become a key element in explaining and studying the phenomenon of tourism (Merinero-Rodríguez and PulidoFernández, 2016). Therein, the issue of networks as resource access is a recurring research topic, most commonly measuring the flow of resources and information between actors in a network (Aubke, 2014; Baggio and Cooper, 2010; Timur and Getz, 2008)
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